Apparatus for lining cylindrical flasks



Aug 11, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,143,774

APPARATUS Foa LINING CYLINDRICAL FLAsKs TMR/vim Aug. l1, 1964 P. E. EwlNG 3,143,774

APPARATUS FOR LINING CYLINDRICAL FLAsKs original Filed April l1, leso 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,143,774 APPARATUS FOR LlNING CYLINDRICAL FLASKS Paul E. Ewing, Huntington Park, Calif., assior to Rich Manufacturing Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Original application Apr. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 21,180, now Patent No. 3,072,980, dated Jau. 15, 1963. Divided and this application May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 113,984 3 Claims. (Cl. 22-36) This invention relates to centrifugal casting apparatus for the manufacture of pipe and is particularly directed to improvements over the apparatus shown in my prior Patent 2,879,563, granted March 31, 1959. This application is a division of my application Serial No. 21,180, filed April l1, 1960, now Patent No. 3,072,980. In general terms the apparatus disclosed in that patent includes a rotary transfer member which receives a cylindrical metal flask in horizontal position and then turns it to an upright Vertical position. While the ask is held in vertical position a retractable pattern is inserted upward into the in- -terior of the flask and a sand-delivery mechanism is lowered to contact the upper end of the flask and the upper end of the pattern. Sand is then blown into the interior of the flask around the pattern to form a sand lining within the flask. The pattern is then withdrawn in a downward direction and the sand-delivery device is retracted upward away from the flask.

The transfer member then turns and deposits the sandlined flask in horizontal position on rails leading to a spinning station where molten metal is poured into the spinning sand-lined flask, or mold. The molten metal solidies while the mold is spinning and the mold then moves from the spinning station to a casting-ejection station. The casting, in the form of a length of pipe, is pushed axially out of the flask along with the sand lining. The casting and sand are then discharged laterally while the empty flask is elevated and deposited on rails leading to the transfer member. The cycle then repeats.

The present invention relates to improvements concerning the mounting of the sand-delivery device, An important object of this invention is to provide an improved form of lifting and guiding device for the sand-delivery apparatus with respect to the upper end of the vertical flask on the transfer member.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in diagrammatic form of a centrifugal casting apparatus embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation showing details of the sand-filling operation of the vertical flask.

Referring to the drawings, the general arrangement includes a rotary transfer member which may be similar to that disclosed in my prior Patent 2,879,563. This rotary transfer member 10 includes a framework 11 fixed on a central horizontal shaft 12. The shaft 12 is supported in axially spaced bearings 13 and 14 mounted on pedestals 15. The framework 11 is positioned between the bearings 13 and 14. Four flask-receiving seats are provided on the front face of the framework 11 and each of these seats is adapted to receive and hold a hollow cylindrical flask 16. Power means in the form of a power cylinder 17 acting through crank arm 18 and a one-way clutch 19 serves to turn the shaft 12 and ltransfer member 10 through one-quarter turn increments. A retractable pattern 21 is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod 22 extending upward from a power cylinder assembly 23. When the piston rod 22 is projected upward, the pattern 21 moves longitudinally into the bore of the vertical flask 16. A sealing plate 24 resiliently mounted on the piston rod 22 contacts the lower end of the vertical flask 16.

The sand-delivery device generally designated 25 has a nozzle 26 at the lower end thereof and when the device 25 is lowered to Contact the upper end of the flask 16 the nozzle acts as a pilot and telescopes into the upper end of the pattern 21 to hold it in central position and thus forms a part of the pattern. (See FIGURE 2). The apparatus for guiding and raising and lowering the sauddelivery device is described hereinafter.

After the vertical flask 16 has been lined with sand and after the sand-delivery device 25 has been retracted in an upward direction and the pattern 21 retracted in a downward direction, the rotary transfer member 10 is turned through one-quarter revolution to bring the sand-lined flask into horizontal position adjacent the stationary rails 30. The sand-lined flask is then released from its seat on a framework 11 and rolls along the rails 30 toward the spinning station generally designated 31. When the sandlined flask or mold 32 has received molten metal and after the casting has begun to cool, the casting-containing mold is deposited on rails 33 and feeder `device generally designated 34 controls the rate of rolling movement of the casting-filled molds 32 to the casting-ejection station generally designated 35. The casting and sand lining are ejected axially from the hollow flask into a tiltable hopper 36 and the hopper is then raised by means of the cable 37 and power cylinder 38 to discharge the pipe casting and sand into the oscillating conveyor 39. The empty flask 16 is lifted by power cylinder assembly 41 to the upper portion of the tower 42 and discharge laterally onto the upper traekway or rails 43. The empty flask rolls on the rails 43 to the feeder assembly generally designated 44, and is again received in horizontal position on one of the seats on the rotary transfer member 10. The cycle then repeats.

The feeder mechanism generally designated 44 is described in detail and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 113,983, filed May 8, 1961. The purpose of this feeder mechanism 44 is to control the rate of rolling movement of the hollow cylindrical flask 16 toward the rotary transfer member 10.

When the empty flask 16 has been swung from horizontal loading position to Vertical sand-lining position on the rotary transfer member 10 a retractable latching dog 91 engages a portion of the framework 11 to hold the rotary transfer member 10 in fixed position. The pattern 21 is lifted and projected into the hollow interior of the vertical flask 16 and the plate 24 engages the lower end of the flask to form a seal. The sand-delivery device'25 is lowered to bring the projecting end into engagement with the upper end of the pattern 21, thereby centering the pattern to produce an annular space 92 of uniform dimensions between the pattern 21 and the bore 93 of the flask 16.v Sand is then blown through ring orifices 94 into the annular space and thus forms a lining of uniform dimensions and substantially uniform density. At the completion of the sand-filling operation the pattern 21 is withdrawn downward and the sand-delivery device 25 is lifted vertically upward for a sufllcient distance to provide clearance for swinging another empty flask into vertical position on the rotary transfer member 10.

The means for supporting and raising and lowering the sand-delivery device 25 is best-shown in FIGURE l. Primary support columns and 101 are connected by a crossbeam 102 at their upper ends and pedestals 103 mounted on this crossbeam support a stationary horizontal beam 104. Four stationary guide channels 105 are mounted on the columns 100 and 101 and are connected to the crossbeam 102. Each of these channels 105 receives a guide bar (not shown) in sliding relationship and these guide bars are fixed to the crossframes 106 and 107. These crossbeams carry the sand-delivery device 25. Crossframes 106 and 107 are affixed to and form a part of a vertically movable carrier 110 which Vincludes parallel longitudinal members 111. A boxfrarne 112 connects the upper ends of the members 111. Vertical members 113 are aixed to thisrboxframe 112and connected by the crown piece 114. A power cylinder assembly generally designated 115 is positioned directly above the vertical ask 16 on the axis thereof and this assembly includes a stationary cylinder 116 projecting through a clearance space in the boxframe 112 and having a vertical piston rod 117 connected to the crown piece 114. The lower end 'of the cylinder 116 is connected to the stationary horizontal beam 104 on the hydraulic cylinder assembly 115 and is actuated to project the piston rod 117. The entire vertically movable carrier 110 including the parts 106, 107, 111, 112, 113, 114 are lifted pendantly and are guided in this vertical movement by means of the guide channels 105. The sand-delivery device moves upward as an integral part of the vertically movable carrier 110.

Sand carried on a horizontal conveyor belt 120 passing between the longitudinal members 111 of the vertically movable carrier 110 may be deflected -by means (not shown) into the stationary hopper 121. The sand then Y passes through the hopper outlet 122 into the upper end 123 of the sand-delivery device 25. The sand-delivery device 25 includes a horizontal slide-valve assembly`124 which may be a conventional design and serves to control the amount of sand delivered to the lower end of the device 25. Compressed airis used ina conventional manner to blow sand from the device 25 through the nozzle 26 into the interior of the vertical flask 16. v

When the sand-lined iask or mold 32 rolls from the lower end of the rotary transfer member onto the rails 30, it rolls down the rails until it encounters anotherv similar sand-lined ask or mold. The tracks are each provided with an abutment 130 which arrests forward rolling movement of the mold 32. These abutments 130 are placed at the lower ends of the rails 30 at the spinning station generally designated 31. The apparatus at the spinning station is described in detail and, claimed in my copending application Serial No. 21,180, filed April 11, 1960, now Patent No. 3,072,980, and in my co-pending application, Serial No. 113,982, led May 8, 196.1.

Having fully described Vmy invention it is to be understood that I am not to belimited to the details herein set forth but that my` invention is of the full scope of the appended claims. A

I claim:

1. Apparatus for lining cylindrical flasks with sand to form molds for centrifugalcastings, comprising in combination: means for supporting a ask in vertical position, a retractable pattern mounted for upward movement into the interior of said vertical-flask, a sand-delivery device mounted for downward movement to contact the upper end of said vertical flask, a pair of vertical support members positioned on either side of said ask, a crossbeam mounted on and connecting Vthe upper ends of said support members, support means mounted on said crossbeam, a power cylinder,assemblyrvertically mounted on said support means on the axis of said ask, a plurality of stationary guide members mounted on said support members and extending vertically above the position of said ask, crossframe means guided for vertical movement along said guide members, a plurality of vertical members mounted on said crossframe means, framework means connecting the upper ends of said vertical members, means mounted on said framework means and having the piston rod of said power cylinder assembly xedly connected thereto, and means for supporting said sand-delivery device on said crossframe means, said power cylinder assembly operable for pendantly raising and lowering said crossframe means and said sand-delivery device.

2. Apparatus for lining cylindrical flasks with sand to form molds for centrifugal castings, comprising in combination: a movable member for supporting a flask in vertical position, means including a retractable pattern mounted for upward movement into the interior of said ask, and for closing the lower end of the flask, a sanddelivery device mounted for downward movement to contact the upper end of said flask, a pair of vertical support members positioned on either side of said flask, a crossbeam mounted on and connecting the upper ends of said support members, support means mounted on said crossbeam, a power cylinder assembly vertically mounted on said support means on the axis of said flask, a plurality of stationary guide members mounted on said support members and extending vertically above the position of said flask, crossframe means guided for vertical movement along said guide members, a plurality of vertical members mounted on said crossframe means, framework means connecting the upper ends of said vertical members, means mounted on said means and having the piston rod of said v power cylinder assembly xedly connected thereto, and means for supporting said sand-delivery device onsaid crossframe means, said power cylinder assembly operable for pendantly raising and lowering said crossframe means and said sand-delivery device.

3. Apparatus for lining cylindrical flasks with sand to form molds for centrifugal castings, comprising in combination: means for supporting a flask in vertical position, a retractable pattern mounted for upward movement into the interior of said flask, ar sand-delivery device mounted for downward movement to contact the upper end of said ask, a pair of vertical support members positioned on either side of said ask, a crossbeam mounted on and connecting the upper ends of said support members, support means mounted on said crossbeam, a power cylin- Y der assembly vertically mounted on said support means on the axis of said ask, crossframe means guided for vertical movement along said guide means, framework means connecting the vupper ends of said vertical members, means mounted on said framework means and having the piston rod of saidpower assembly xedly connecting thereto, means for supporting said sand-delivery device on said crossframe means, and a sand conveyor belt extending between said vertical membersat alocation above the sanddelivery device but below the power cylinder assembly support means, said power cylinder assembly operable for pendantly raising and lowering said crossframe means and said sand-delivery device.

i References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,377 Johnston June 27, 1905 2,524,447 Iudell Oct. 3, 1950 2,879,563 Ewing Mar. 31, 1959 

1. APPARATUS FOR LINING CYLINDRICAL FLASKS WITH SAND TO FORM MOLDS FOR CENTRIFUGAL CASTINGS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A FLASK IN VERTICAL POSITION, A RETRACTABLE PATTERN MOUNTED FOR UPWARD MOVEMENT INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID VERTICAL FLASK, A SAND-DELIVERY DEVICE MOUNTED FOR DOWNWARD MOVEMENT TO CONTACT THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL FLASK, A PAIR OF VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS POSITIONED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID FLASK, A CROSSBEAM MOUNTED ON AND CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CROSSBEAM, A POWER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY VERTICALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ON THE AXIS OF SAID FLASK, A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY GUIDE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY ABOVE THE POSITION OF SAID FLASK, CROSSFRAME MEANS GUIDED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT ALONG SAID GUIDE MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID CROSSFRAME MEANS, FRAMEWORK MEANS CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAMEWORK MEANS AND HAVING THE PISTON ROD OF SAID POWER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FIXEDLY CONNECTED THERETO, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SAND-DELIVERY DEVICE ON SAID CROSSFRAME MEANS, SAID POWER CYLINDER AS- 